Love Grows

I looked up from my book to see Josh, my stepfather, standing in my doorway, holding a box.

"What's letterboxing?" I asked. I had no idea what he was talking about.

"Letterboxing is like hiking and puzzle-solving and treasure hunting all rolled into one," Josh explained. "I've been reading about it on the Internet and I'd like to try it. With you, Natalie," he added.

Okay, this did sound interesting, I had to admit. "How do you do it?" I asked.

"People hide letterboxes, which can be wooden, plastic, or metal boxes, all over," Josh continued his explanation. "Mostly outdoors, like in woods or parks. Then they post clues on the Internet about how to find their box. Sometimes the clues are simple directions, sometimes you have to solve a puzzle in order to find the box."

"What do you do when you find a box?" I asked.

"Inside each box people place a logbook and a stamp and ink pad. You carry your own logbook, stamp, and ink pad. When you find a box, you stamp that logbook with your stamp, and stamp your logbbok with their stamp. That's how people know who's found their letterbox."

When I didn't reply right away, Josh added, "Mom and Zach are napping right now, so it seemed like a perfect time for the two of us to try this. I have a notebook and one of your mom's stamps. And a box." Josh held up the box to show me.

I stared down at my book while I considered Josh's offer. As far as stepfathers go, Josh is fine. I mean, I'm glad Mom finally found someone to share her life with again. And Zachary, my new half brother, well of course I love him. But ever since Zachary arrived it seems like the entire world revolves around him. I guess that's the way it's supposed to be with a new baby. And I guess that's also why I spend so much time alone in my room. Now Josh is offering to spend time with me while Mom and Zach nap. Well, why not? This letterboxing thing did sound kind of fun.

In the car, Josh told me we were heading to Landon Park to search for our first letterbox. "The clues they gave didn't seem too hard for our first time," he explained.

As we set off on the trail, I held the compass, while Josh read the clues out loud. We took a few wrong turns, did some backtracking, and puzzled over the compass and the clues together. Finally, I spotted a log that seemed to fit the clues. I sprinted for it, jumping over the tree roots and fallen branches littering the path.

Crouching down, I peered in to the hollow log. And saw the prize we had been searching for.

"I found it!" I yelled as I reached in and pulled the box out.

Josh watched while I opened the small tin box and lifted out the contents.

"Look at this stamp!" I exclaimed. "It's beautiful."

"Most people carve their own stamp," Josh explained. "So they can be creative and make it personal."

"Can we carve our own stamp?" I asked. Josh smiled at me. "Sure, Natalie," he replied. "If you think you like letterboxing enough to continue doing it."

I nodded. "Yes," I said. "This is fun." And, I thought, but didn't say out loud, it's kind of fun spending time just with Josh. We had actually been talking a lot, about Zachary of course, but about other things, too. Like other things going on in my life.

"Can I do the stamping?" I asked. After Josh nodded, I inked both stamps and stamped the logbooks. Then I carefully placed the letterbox back in its hiding spot for the next treasure hunters.

As we hiked back down the trail, I suggested, "It would be fun to hide our own boxes, too."

"Sure," Josh agreed. "Let's round up the supplies and do that. Of course we'll have to work hard to find good hiding places and make up challenging clues."

On the way home, we stopped at an art supply store to pick up the materials to carve our own stamp. Ideas for the stamp were already dancing through my head.

Mom met us at the door, holding Zachary. "You missed his first smile!" she exclaimed. "But I'm sure you two had fun, also."

Josh took Zachary from Mom and pressed the baby to his chest, kissing his son's soft head.

"Mom, look," I said, spilling out the contents of our shopping bag. I explained to her all about letterboxing and carving our own stamp. "Josh said we can go letterboxing again next Saturday."

"That's great, Natalie," Mom said, smiling at me.

Letterboxing practically consumed the week between Saturdays. Josh and I worked hard, carving a personalized stamp, figuring out where to hide our first box, making up the clues to post on the Internet.

By the next Saturday we were ready to head out, both to hide our first box, and to hunt for others. We ended up being gone the whole day, arriving home just in time for dinner. Luckily, Josh had packed a lunch for us this time.

"Mom," I called as I burst through the door that evening. "We found three letterboxes and hid ours in a really great place."

"That's wonderful," she replied, watching as Josh headed right to where Zachary reclined in his bouncy seat. "Guess what? Zachary rolled over today!"

I headed over to my little brother, too, so all three of us could ooh and aah over his latest accomplishment.

Letterboxing became our Saturday routine. Josh and I would head out in the morning, carrying more supplies each time. We explored countless parks and trails, hiding boxes, finding boxes, filling our logbook with stamps. I loved letterboxing. I loved figuring out the clues, exploring trails and parks I had never been to before, finding the treasure at the end of each search, and going back to our hidden boxes to see who had discovered them. And I liked talking with Josh, and getting to know him better.

Meeting us at the door with Zach's latest accomplishment became Mom's Saturday routine. Zachary sat up for the first time, cut his first tooth, ate his first banana. Each time we stepped through the door, Josh headed straight to Zachary, enveloping the baby in his large arms and soft kisses.

One Saturday after we came home, I put away our supplies and headed back toward the kitchen. I heard Mom and Josh talking; I don't think they realized that I could hear them, so maybe I overheard something I wasn't meant to.

"You're missing so much time with Zachary on Saturdays," my mom said.

"I know," I heard Josh answer. "But Natalie is just as important to me. I wouldn't miss this time with her for anything. Even my baby boy."

Then I heard those familiar kissing noises and I knew that Josh was once again cuddling his son in his arms.

His son. My baby brother is Josh's son, I thought. My stepfather's only child. But instead of spending Saturdays with Zachary, Josh chooses to spend an entire day off, every week, with me. And I'm not even his real child.

I shook my head. Maybe I have to stop thinking this way, I told myself. In terms of real children and stepparents, half brothers and birth parents. It sure seems like Josh isn't seeing things in those terms. Maybe I need to drop all the categories. Maybe it should just be children and parents, brothers and sisters. Families with no qualifiers.

I coughed loudly so Mom and Josh were warned of my arrival as I stepped into the kitchen. Zachary, in Josh's arms, reached for me.

"Hey, little brother," I said, taking him from Josh. Zachary smiled his one-tooth smile at me and grabbed for my hair.

I looked at my parents. "I have a great idea," I said. "Now that Zachary is getting older, maybe he and Mom can go letterboxing, too. We have that backpack carrier for him, right?"

"We do," Mom said. "I think that's a wonderful idea, Natalie."

"I agree," Josh added. "The four of us going letterboxing together sounds great. Although I don't know if Zachary will be a lot of help with the clues just yet."

Mom, Josh, and I all laughed. Zachary looked from face to face, then, not knowing why, joined in our laughter.

Comments for Love Grows

Good Story helps my kid alot She is only 7 years old and I gave her thos 12-14 story to read she than told me all aboit this story

May 22, 2015Rating

Amazingby: Anonymous

This is a wonderful, short story, which was attracted the reader, and it kept ME happy as I new it was a happy ending~ could you make more stories like this? Thank you

May 13, 2015Rating

Entertainingby: Anonymous

I think this story was well written and accessible for children, keep it up. Would love to read more of these stories. :)

Nov 29, 2014Rating

Awesomeby: Halo

This is a cool story. Keep it up.

Nov 29, 2014Rating

Awesomeby: Halo

This is a cool story. Keep it up.

Mar 28, 2014Rating

love growsby: kaly

I love love love love love love love love love love this book

Aug 18, 2013Rating

Love growsby: Anonymous

Good book

Feb 29, 2012Rating

COOLby: ME

REALLY COOL!

Oct 19, 2011Rating

Touchingby: Anonymous

This story is just lovely

Jun 08, 2011Rating

Awesome!by: Anonymous

It's really good! Honestly, I was expecting a Love Story in a Vineyard, but yours is amazing too.

Sep 14, 2010Rating

Step-familiesby: Anonymous

Really enjoyed your story. Blended families can be really hard on kids but your story shows how wonderful they can be if you give them a chance. A very positive story. Keep writing!

Sep 01, 2010Rating

GOOD JOBby: Anonymous

I enjoyed your story. It can be encouraging for other children you may feel a bit left out in a family. Job well done.

Aug 31, 2010Rating

Family Funby: Anonymous

Great story about family fun (not involving video games!) Nice mix of dialogue and multiple characters. Uplifting, I think kids will love it.

Aug 30, 2010Rating

Love truly does grow upby: don nelson

Hi Heather,
What a fun story. I never heard of this game before.
Sweet, sweet ending without being preachy.
Sometime I want to play this game.

This is my favorite line:
“Then I heard those familiar kissing noises and I knew that Josh was once again cuddling his son in his arms.”
FYI: Short stories are among the hardest things to write well. Each word must propel the story forward. Concise writing is also a critical element.
Happy writing,
don